I have started reading Brading Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, I’m halfway through the book, but at this point, I’m really inspired by the context of the book; I will include some essential pages that stood out to me. I am a very slow reader, and with my dyslexia, it is hard for me to keep text and information stored, so doing this blog post will help me keep track of my thoughts, perspectives, and reflections on this book. I started reading this book as it was recommended by the tour guide from the earth ship at Stamner Organic after I was discussing with her the innovation of the nomadic lifestyle in relevance to sustainable living; this book has helped me learn about a modern perspective on indigenous culture reflecting on traditions, belief, and language. I have researched indigenous knowledge and traditions, such as the seven generational principles.
“Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”
Kimmerer’s perspective of the estranged passion for her culture after Western communities have used their effort to deconstruct their lifestyles is insightful; the knowledge of the language she learns later in life sets the perspective of her journey of understanding a part of herself that is embedded within her but hasn’t be shared or taken seriously. She documents when she started her journey through learning botany and how her perspectives weren’t respected due to her Potawatomi knowledge and experiences. Through supporting her students and her own practice, she has documented farming methods known as the three sisters as well as included in the novel ‘Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teaching of the Grass’ this chapter was laid out as a piece of academic writing with a literature review, hypothesis and results. In this chapter, she discussed how the landscape for scientific hypothesis from native research and lifestyle patterns wasn’t accepted by Western academics, so she supported this change by providing the research and time documenting these to show the environmental benefits. For a while, I’ve believed that indigenous societies have lived the most sustainable lifestyle for humankind. This book has only solidified this idea as it has mentioned the repression of indigenous culture for Western change. I’m really excited to continue reading this book, and it has motivated me to look into more indigenous knowledge and keep looking into research into indigenous to support my circular economic structure as I believe that indigenous communities are a human society that is responsible for their supply systems and lifestyle and hasn’t drastically trigger environmental decline.
“In indigenous agriculture, the practice is to modify the plants to fit the land. As a result, there are many varieties of corn domesticated by our ancestors, all adapted to grow in many different places. Modern agriculture, with its big engines and fossil fuels, took the opposite approach: modify the land to fit the plants, which are frighteningly similar clones.
